‘
Food habits ’
category archive

A balanced diet is always important and you should try to make the appropriate changes to your diet before you get pregnant. Consider reducing your intake of empty calories, artificial sweeteners, and caffeine.To increase your intake of this important nutrient, you should consume foods that are naturally high in folic acid, such as oranges, orange juice, honeydew melon, avocados, dark green vegetables (broccoli, brussel sprouts, Romaine lettuce, spinach), asparagus, bean sprouts, corn, cauliflower, dried beans, nuts, seeds, bran cereals, whole-grain products, wheat germ, and fortified breakfast cereals. Talk to your doctor about taking a folic acid supplement as well.It is important to take a good store of vitamins and minerals before you get pregnant and if you intend to breastfeed your baby. A balanced diet should include protein-rich foods, dairy produce, carbohydrates and fruit and vegetables. Avoid eating lots of sugary, salty or fatty foods. Vegetarian diets are fine as long as a plentiful iron supply is maintained. The five basic food groups are (1) bread, cereal, rice, and pasta, (2) vegetables, (3) fruits, (4) milk, yogurt, and cheese, and (5) meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts. The fruit and vegetable groups supply us with vitamins A and C and some minerals, carbohydrates, and fiber. Foods in the grain group provide B vitamins, iron, fiber, and carbohydrates. The milk group gives us calcium, protein, and vitamin B2. The meat group supplies protein, niacin, thiamine, and iron.

Changing Eating Habits

Weight and pregnancy can be a confusing subject, especially if you have Chronic Hypertension. Your weight before pregnancy and your weight gain during pregnancy are two different issues. In planning for pregnancy, you can work with your doctor to determine what an ideal weight is for you. Charts and graphs that tell you how much you should weigh if you are a certain height are not always helpful